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EXPERIENCES  AND  IMPRESSIONS 
DURING  A TOUR  IN  ASIA  IN 
1912-1913,  BEING  EXTRACTS  FROM 
PERSONAL  LETTERS  OF  JOHN  R.  MOTT 


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in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/experiencesOOmott 


EXPERIENCES  AND  IMPRESSIONS 
DURING  A TOUR  IN  ASIA  IN 
1912-1913,  BEING  EXTRACTS  FROM 
PERSONAL  LETTERS  OF  JOHN  R.  MOTT 


PRIVA TEL  Y PRINTED 


Itinerary 

September  26 — October  1,  1912 

Meeting  of  the  Continuation  Committee  at  Lake  Mohonk, 
New  York 

October  5 

Sailed  from  New  York  on  the  “Lapland”  of  the  Red  Star  Line 

October  14-16 

London,  in  consultation  with  leaders  of  the  Missionary  So- 
cieties and  of  the  World’s  Student  Christian  Federation 

October  17 

Paris,  conferring  with  leaders  of  the  French  Students’  Chris- 
tian Federation 

October  19 

Sailed  from  Marseilles  on  the  “Kamo  Maru”  of  the  Nippon 
Yusen  Kaisha 

October  24 
Called  at  Port  Said 

November  6-13 

Colombo,  Ceylon,  conducting  Continuation  Committee  Con- 
ference, and  participating  in  Conference  of  Christian  Associations 
and  in  meetings  of  men 

November  15 — January  16,  1913 

In  India,  conducting  Continuation  Committee  Conferences  at 
Madras,  Bombay,  Jubbulpore,  Allahabad,  Lahore,  Calcutta,  and 
Rangoon ; co-operating  in  Student  Evangelistic  Missions  at  all 
five  university  centres ; and,  during  the  Holidays,  participating 
in  the  All-India  Student  Conference 

January  21-23 

Conducting  Continuation  Committee  Conference  at  Singapore 


3 


January  29 
Arrived  at  Hongkong 

January  30 — March  24 

In  China,  conducting  Continuation  Committee  Conferences  at 
Canton,  Foochow,  Shanghai,  Tsinanfu,  Peking,  Hankow,  and 
Mukden ; cooperating  in  Student  Evangelistic  Missions  at  all 
principal  student  centres ; conferring  with  leaders  of  national 
Christian  movements  and  of  inter-mission  agencies 

March  25-29 

In  Korea,  conducting  Continuation  Committee  Conferences  and 
participating  in  meetings  of  men 

March  31-April  19 

In  Japan,  conducting  Continuation  Committee  Conferences, 
co-operating  in  student  meetings ; and  conferring  with  leaders  of 
national  Christian  movements  and  organizations 

April  28 
At  Honolulu 

May  5 

Arrived  at  San  Francisco 
May  15-18 

International  Convention,  Cincinnati 
May  26-30 

General  Committee  Meeting  of  the  World’s  Student  Christian 
Federation  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey 

June  2-8 

Conference  of  the  World’s  Student  Christian  Federation  at 
Lake  Mohonk,  New  York 


4 


Continuation  Committee  Conferences  in  India 


Puri,  India,  January  4,  1913. 

“You  will  remember  that  the  principal  object  of  my  tour  in 
Asia  was  to  try  to  bring  about  a closer  relation  between  the  Con- 
tinuation Committee,  which  in  a sense  represents  the  foreign 
missionary  forces  of  Europe  and  North  America,  and  the  leaders 
of  the  Christian  forces  in  the  non-Christian  nations.  Now  that 
my  work  in  Ceylon  and  India  is  nearly  finished,  I write  to  report 
to  you  some  of  the  developments.  As  the  time  at  my  disposal 
for  this  journey  was  so  short,  I adopted  the  plan  of  a chain  of 
conferences  with  principal  missionaries  and  Indian  leaders,  at 
which  opportunity  would  be  afforded  to  study  the  whole  situation 
and  to  consider  the  problems  of  common  and  most  vital  concern. 
Accordingly,  the  field  was  divided  into  convenient  areas,  and  I 
conducted  a conference  in  each,  namely,  at  Colombo  in  Celyon, 
and  at  Madras,  Bombay,  Jubbulpore,  Allahabad,  Lahore,  and 
Calcutta  in  India.  One  is  to  be  held  in  Rangoon  later. 

“Each  conference  has  been  of  three  days’  duration.  The 
aim  has  been  to  limit  the  attendance  to  fifty  or  sixty  persons — 
a number  sufficiently  large  to  ensure  a satisfactory  representation 
of  all  important  interests  concerned,  and  small  enough  to 
facilitate  the  most  free  discussion.  The  personnel  of  these 
gatherings  has  been  truly  notable.  With  very  few  exceptions, 
every  mission  in  each  area  has  been  represented.  This  means 
that  all  of  the  home  countries  which  are  related  to  the  missionary 
movement  in  India,  such  as  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  the  United 
States,  Canada,  Germany,  and  Scandinavia,  have  had  a part  in 
these  gatherings.  There  have  been  delegates  present  from  all  of 
the  Protestant  'Christian  Communions  represented  in  India.  The 
Syrian  Church  sent  delegates,  including  the  venerable  Metro- 
politan, Mar  Dionysius.  For  the  first  time  in  history  this  ancient 
Church  was  officially  represented  in  a gathering  with  the  other 
Christian  forces  in  India. 

“At  the  suggestion  of  the  Governor  of  Madras,  I had  a long 
interview  at  Government  House  with  the  Roman  Catholic  Arch- 


5 


bishop  in  Madras,  in  the  course  of  which  he  showed  deep  interest 
in  the  cause  of  Christian  unity.  He  emphasized  the  point  that 
although  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  reunion  are  very  great,  it 
is  our  duty  to  seek  to  attain  this  end.  In  answer  to  my  question 
as  to  what  are  the  most  helpful  means  for  promoting  true  unity 
among  Christians,  he  said,  ‘First,  prayer;  secondly,  the  exercise  of 
gentleness  and  courtesy;  thirdly,  we  must  see  more  of  each  other.’ 

“Most  striking  of  all  was  the  unusually  full  and  able  repre- 
sentation of  Indian  Christian  leaders.  Those  who  know  the  facts, 
said  that  we  had  present  at  each  conference  the  fifty  persons  most 
important  for  the  purpose  of  considering  questions  involving 
united  action,  and  the  fifty  delegates  at  each  area  who  could  do 
more  to  influence  missionary  thought  and  practice  in  their  respec- 
tive fields  than  possibly  any  other  company  could  have  done. 

“The  conferences  were  devoted  not  to  addresses  but  primarily 
to  discussions,  based  on  a syllabus  of  questions  which  I had  pre- 
pared in  consultation  with  the  leaders  of  the  missionary  forces  in 
the  West  and  on  the  field.  These  questions  were  calculated  to 
focus  debate  upon  the  most  important  and  pressing  problems  of 
missions.  Brief  papers  had  been  written  upon  each  main  topic, 
and  in  most  cases  these  were  printed  and  circulated  among  the 
delegates  before  the  conference  assembled.  Each  topic  was 
opened  by  the  writer  of  a paper  and  then  followed  open  discus- 
sion, each  speaker  being  limited  as  a rule  to  five  minutes,  though, 
as  a matter  of  fact,  the  speeches  averaged  in  length  more  nearly 
three  minutes.  Committees  on  findings  or  recommendations 
were  appointed  with  reference  to  each  principal  topic,  and  toward 
the  close  of  the  conference  the  reports  of  the  committees  were 
discussed  and  adopted.  I had  not  contemplated  having  findings, 
but  those  in  charge  of  each  conference  expressed  their  unanimous 
and  strong  desire  that  there  be  findings,  and  that  these  should  be 
sent  to  all  missionaries,  Indian  workers,  and  home  Societies  or 
Boards  concerned.  The  debates  throughout  the  whole  field 
reached  a high  level.  The  contribution  made  by  the  Indian  dele- 
gates was  sometimes  even  more  valuable  than  that  by  the  mis- 
sionaries. The  greatest  freedom,  frankness,  and  courage  char- 
acterized the  discussions.  The  only  complaint  was  that  there 
was  not  sufficient  time  for  a thorough  consideration  of  some  of 
the  topics.  A deep  spirit  of  true  unity  dominated  all  the  pro- 


6 


ceedings,  reminding  one  again  of  the  memorable  days  of  the 
Edinburgh  Conference. 

“At  the  end  of  the  series  of  Provincial  Conferences  in  India 
a National  Conference  was  conducted  in  Calcutta.  This  was 
attended  by  five  leaders  appointed  by  each  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
ferences, with  several  co-opted  members,  making  like  the  others  a 
gathering  of  some  fifty  or  sixty  members.  The  object  of  this 
Conference  was  to  review  nationally  the  points  agreed  upon  by 
the  Provincial  Conferences,  and  also  to  discuss  certain  questions 
which  could  only  be  considered  in  a national  meeting.  Its  per- 
sonnel included  recognized  leaders  of  all  of  the  principal  Societies 
at  work  in  the  Indian  Empire.  The  sessions  were'  held  in  the 
rooms  of  the  Asiatic  Society,  and  the  delegates  lodged  together 
during  the  days  of  the  Conference,  thus  promoting  the  closest 
fellowship.  During  part  of  the  time  the  delegates  worked  in  ten 
committees,  while  the  rest  of  the  time  was  spent  as  a committee 
of  the  whole  in  considering  the  reports  of  these  committees.  The 
findings  of  the  Provincial  Conferences,  of  the  last  Madras 
Decennial  Conference  and  of  the  Edinburgh  Conference,  were 
reviewed  by  the  committees  and  constituted  the  basis  for  their 
own  work.  Never  have  I spent  more  intense  days  than  during 
this  Conference.  All  the  delegates  took  their  work  seriously ; 
for  example,  the  Bishop  of  Lahore,  the  new  Metropolitan  of 
India,  shifted  important  engagements  and  travelled  two  days  to 
come  to  the  Conference. 

“A  very  representative  Indian  leader  stated  that  one  of  the 
Provincial  Conferences  had  advanced  by  a full  generation  the 
cause  of  missions  in  the  field  concerned.  The  Bishop  of  Madras, 
in  writing  about  this  series  of  conferences,  stated  that  they  ‘have 
been  unique  in  the  forethought  with  which  they  have  been  planned 
and  organized,  in  the  thoroughness  of  their  work,  in  the  com- 
pleteness of  the  arrangements  made  for  eliciting  and  focussing 
the  best  thought  and  experience  of  the  Indian  field,  and  in  the 
wise  provision  of  an  adequate  machinery  for  making  the  findings 
effective  in  the  future.’  The  Governor  of  Bengal,  who  received 
the  delegates  at  Government  House,  characterized  the  National 
Conference  as  in  some  respects  the  most  important  gathering 
ever  held  in  India. 

“Without  doubt  the  National  Conference  and  the  provincial 


7 


gatherings  which  preceded  it  gave  a great  impulse  to  the  cause 
of  co-operation  and  unity.  Many  old  plans  for  co-operation  were 
revived  and  strengthened,  and  new  ones  were  launched,  includ- 
ing several  measures  of  far-reaching  importance.  It  was  agreed 
to  make  a united  scientific  survey  of  the  vast  Indian  Empire  with 
reference  to  its  ultimate  actual  occupation.  A Board  of  Survey 
has  been  appointed,  and  steps  taken  to  secure  a qualified  secretary 
or  director.  Much  was  done  in  the  direction  of  improving  the 
rules  and  practices  relating  to  comity  between  missions.  The 
Arbitration  Board  created  by  the  Madras  Decennial  Conference 
was  endorsed,  and  its  hands  have  been  greatly  strengthened. 
Educational  unions  are  to  be  established  or  improved  in  different 
areas,  thus  ensuring  a better  co-ordination  and  development  of 
the  educational  missionary  work.  United  women’s  Christian  col- 
leges have  been  recommended  for  southern  and  western  India, 
where  vast  presidencies  each  containing  from  twenty  to  forty 
million  people,  are  yet  without  provision  for  higher  education 
for  women.  Union  institutions  for  training  Christian  teachers 
have  also  been  proposed,  and  in  some  cases  projected.  Pro- 
posals for  union  medical  work  have  been  made  in  different 
quarters.  In  nearly  every  area  the  conferences  voted  in  favour 
of  union  language  schools  for  the  better  preparation  of  new  mis- 
sionaries. United  evangelistic  campaigns  have  been  recommended. 

“Most  important  of  all,  potentially,  was  the  decision  to  estab- 
lish in  each  area  Provincial  Representative  Councils  to  ensure 
united  planning  and  action ; and  the  initial  steps  were  taken  lead- 
ing to  a National  Missionary  Council,  which  will  link  together 
for  the  first  time  in  any  true  sense  all  the  Christian  forces  of 
India.  This  National  Council  will  be  composed  of  two  persons 
appointed  by  each  Provincial  Council,  and  a few  additional  co- 
opted members.  Pending  the  completion  of  this  organization  an 
Interim  Committee  has  been  appointed  to  perfect  the  Provincial 
and  National  Councils,  and  to  give  effect  to  other  recommenda- 
tions of  the  recent  Conference.  The  new  Metropolitan  of  India 
is  the  Convener  of  the  Committee.  I found  India  ripe  for  this 
union  of  forces.  It  is  this  promise  of  a permanent,  united,  pro- 
ductive force  which  lends  special  significance  to  the  activities  of 
these  recent  weeks.  When  the  reports  of  the  Committee  on  Co- 
operation presented  by  the  new  Metropolitan  was  adopted  by  a 


8 


unanimous  standing  vote,  and  we  united  in  prayer,  it  brought 
vividly  to  the  memory  of  many  that  moving  moment  when  the 
Edinburgh  Conference  delegates  united  in  the  one  creative  act  of 
forming  the  Continuation  Committee.  All  felt,  to  use  the  ex- 
pression of  a foremost  leader,  that  missions  had  indeed  entered 
upon  a new  era.  Thus,  any  distinctive  service  I may  have  been 
permitted  to  render  on  this  my  third  visit  to  India  has  been  that 
of  furthering  the  cause  of  unity — the  drawing  together  of  all  the 
Christian  forces,  the  uniting  more  fully  the  Indian  and  foreign 
Christian  leaders  in  planning  and  working,  and  the  linking  of  the 
forces  at  the  front  more  closely  with  those  at  the  home  base.” 


9 


Syrian  Church  Unity  Conference 

Calcutta,  India,  January  9,  1913. 

“Let  me  tell  you  briefly  about  another  important  experience 
not  referred  to  in  my  last  letter.  As  you  know,  the  Syrian 
Church  of  Travancore  is  the  oldest  and  one  of  the  largest  Chris- 
tian Communions  in  India.  It  has  for  a long  period  been  seriously 
rent  into  divisions  which  have  stood  aloof  from  each  other.  Some 
of  the  younger  and  more  progressive  members  of  different  parties 
asked  me  whether  before  leaving  India  I would  not,  as  Chairman 
of  the  Continuation  Committee,  consent  to  meet  deputations  of 
leaders  of  the  various  Christian  bodies  in  Travancore  to  promote 
a better  understanding  and  co-operation.  I told  them  I would 
gladly  do  so  but  that  owing  to  my  crowded  programme  it  would 
be  necessary  for  them  to  come  to  North  India,  a three  days’ 
journey.  The  result  was  the  Syrian  Church  Unity  Conference, 
held  at  Serampore,  near  Calcutta,  January  1-2.  The  number  of 
delegates  from  each  body  was  restricted  to  six.  The  Jacobites 
were  represented  by  their  Metropolitan,  Mar  Dionysius,  and  five 
of  his  leading  members.  The  Mar  Thoma  body  was  represented 
by  their  Metropolitan  and  his  strongest  workers.  The  Bishop  in 
Travancore  and  Cochin  and  a group  of  young  men  represented 
the  Anglicans.  The  Metropolitan  of  the  body  which  recently  split 
off  from  the  Jacobites  had  started  to  the  Conference,  but  owing 
to  the  illness  of  his  associate  was  unable  to  proceed,  but  his  com- 
munity was  represented  by  two  students,  and  he  sent  a message 
pledging  himself  to  help  carry  out  the  conclusions  of  the 
Conference. 

“After  the  Conference  convened  I was  asked  to  serve  as 
Chairman,  and  Mr.  Eddy  as  Vice-Chairman.  The  discussions 
during  the  two  days  were  characterized  by  such  wonderful  frank- 
ness, unity,  and  constructive  work  as  to  be  inexplicable  to  those 
familiar  with  the  sad  state  of  friction  hitherto  existing  between 
the  bodies  concerned,  on  any  other  ground  save  that  of  the  over- 
mastering power  of  God  in  answer  to  prayer.  Among  the  mat- 


10 


ters  on  which  unanimous  agreement  was  reached  were  these:  To 
unite  in  Christian  student  camps;  to  unite  in  local  conferences 
for  the  deepening  of  spiritual  life,  the  development  of  missionary 
spirit,  and  the  promotion  of  true  fellowship ; to  unite  in  apologetic 
lectures  to  the  educated  non-Christians  and  in  missions  to  the 
depressed  classes ; to  co-operate  with  the  National  Missionary 
Society  of  India — a highly  significant  action  because  during  long 
centuries  the  Syrian  Church  has  not  been  missionary ; to  unite  in 
establishing  a modern,  model  high-school  which  might  evolve  into 
a college ; to  combine  in  the  training  of  workers ; to  observe  the 
principle  that  no  person  shall  be  received  into  another  Church 
without  the  approval  of  the  Church  to  which  he  originally  be- 
longed, and  that  in  cases  of  dispute  the  matter  shall  be  referred 
to  arbitration  on  a plan  adopted  at  the  Conference ; to  forgive  and 
forget  the  past  and  to  regard  each  other  as  brothers  in  the  future ; 
to  constitute  a continuation  committee  for  giving  effect  to  the 
decisions  of  the  Conference  and  for  fostering  these  remarkable 
beginnings  of  unity.” 


ll 


Student  Evangelistic  Meetings  in  Ceylon, 
India,  and  Burma 

On  the  “Ellora,” 

Approaching  Rangoon,  January  13,  1913. 

“You  will  recall  that  one  of  the  important  objects  of  my 
present  tour  was  to  further  the  Christian  propaganda  among  the 
students  of  Asia.  Foremost  missionaries  and  native  leaders  had 
pressed  me  earnestly  to  combine  with  my  work  for  the  Continua- 
tion Committee  special  evangelistic  meetings  for  students.  Mr. 
Sherwood  Eddy  kindly  consented  to  co-operate  with  me  in  this 
special  undertaking.  We  alternated  in  the  evangelistic  addresses. 
As  a rule  I took  charge  of  the  after-meetings,  and  we  joined  forces 
in  the  meetings  of  Christian  workers  both  before  and  following 
the  campaigns,  while  he  assumed  responsibility  for  the  daily 
meetings  with  the  Christian  students  and  also  for  most  of  the 
personal  interviews.  Fortunately  the  Conferences  of  the  Con- 
tinuation Committee  were  held  in  the  principal  student  centres, 
thus  enabling  me  to  devote  the  days  to  conducting  the  Conferences 
and  the  evenings  to  work  among  students. 

“Never  have  I known  more  thorough  preparation  for  student 
evangelistic  meetings  throughout  an  entire  country  than  was  made 
in  the  recent  months  in  India  and  Celyon.  The  local  committee 
had  done  their  part  magnificently.  Prayer  had  been  enlisted  in 
almost  every  country  of  the  world.  It  was  necessary  to  utilize 
the  largest  available  halls  in  the  different  cities,  such  as  the  Parsi 
Theatre  in  Madras,  the  Royal  Opera  House  in  Bombay,  the 
Bradlaugh  Hall  in  Lahore,  and  the  Curzon  Theatre  in  Calcutta. 
The  attendance  was  confined  to  students  and  to  a very  limited 
number  of  graduates  and  other  prominent  members  of  the  edu- 
cated classes.  Colleges  in  neighboring  cities  were  permitted  to 
send  deputations.  Only  those  who  had  been  provided  with 
tickets  were  admitted.  This  ensured  audiences  composed  entirely 
of  the  class  at  which  we  were  aiming.  The  campaigns  lasted 
usually  five  nights,  and  we  had  the  remarkable  average  attend- 


12 


ance  throughout  India  and  Ceylon  of  over  one  thousand  each 
night,  a record  unsurpassed  in  any  other  country.  This  is  the 
more  striking  in  view  of  the  fact  that  in  all  but  two  of  the  cities 
the  meetings  came  just  before  examinations,  and  in  India  examina- 
tions mean  everything. 

“Even  more  impressive  than  the  attendance  was  the  remark- 
able attention  shown  everywhere.  When  it  is  remembered  that  the 
audiences  were  composed  almost  entirely  of  Hindus,  Mohamme- 
dans, Buddhists,  Parsis,  and  the  followers  of  other  non-Christian 
religions,  the  proportion  of  Christians  possibly  never  being  as 
great  as  one  in  twenty,  that  we  laboured  under  the  serious  handi- 
cap of  being  regarded  as  the  emissaries  of  a foreign  religion,  and 
that  we  proclaimed  the  Christian  message  in  the  most  direct  and 
uncompromising  manner,  it  would  be  impossible  to  explain  the 
wonderful  attention  and  responsiveness  of  the  audiences  on  any 
other  ground  save  that  the  living  God  Himself  was  striving  with 
the  hearts  and  consciences  of  men.  It  is  a common  experience  in 
India  for  students  to  get  up  and  go  out  in  the  middle  of  an 
address,  and  the  fact  that  there  was  so  little  of  this  was  com- 
mented upon  again  and  again.  Notwithstanding  the  profound 
interest  and  absorbing  attention  shown  in  every  place  it  was  not 
without  significance  that  there  was  active  and  even  organized 
opposition  in  different  centres.  This  had  its  encouraging  aspect 
because  experience  shows  that  where  there  is  opposition  the 
minds  of  the  students  are  awake  to  the  real  issues.  Whenever  an 
after-meeting  was  called,  invariably  large  numbers  remained  al- 
though the  invitation  to  stay  was  so  expressed  that  to  do  so  im- 
plied serious  interest  or  concern. 

“After  much  reflection  and  discussion  with  those  most 
familiar  with  Indian  conditions,  we  decided  to  ask  all  students 
who  might  wish  to  become  enquirers  to  indicate  the  fact  by  the 
three-fold  promise:  (1)  to  make  a thorough  study  of  the  Gospels; 
(2)  to  pray  daily  for  guidance  and  courage  that  they  might  dis- 
cern and  follow  the  truth;  (3)  to  obey  the  truth  as  fast  as  reason 
and  conscience  told  them  that  they  had  found  the  truth.  By  the 
time  Mr.  Eddy  and  I finished  our  work  in  India,  1578  men,  nearly 
all  non-Christians,  had  in  the  most  open  manner  put  themselves 
on  record  as  making  this  decision.  The  great  problem  in  this 
land  is  to  carry  enquirers  on  to  the  stage  of  baptism.  This  is  a 


13 


far  more  difficult  process  here  than  in  any  other  country,  save 
in  certain  parts  of  the  Mohammedan  world.  I met  missionaries 
who  after  twenty-five  years’  labour  had  not  seen  an  educated 
Indian  baptized.  It  was  most  encouraging,  therefore,  to  learn 
before  we  sailed  from  India  that  already  six  of  the  enquirers  in 
India  and  Ceylon  had  been  baptized,  that  at  least  twenty  others 
had  definitely  decided  to  take  this  step,  and  that  many  more  were 
being  definitely  instructed  with  the  hope  that  they  would  soon 
press  on  to  baptism. 

“Many  regard  as  equally  encouraging  the  quickening  of  the 
Christian  students  and  the  placing  upon  them  of  the  burden  of 
responsibility  for  their  non-Christian  comrades.  Discerning  men 
like  Professor  Hogg  consider  this  fundamental  to  any  truly  great 
expansion  of  Christ’s  Kingdom  among  the  educated  classes.  These 
meetings  did  much  to  create  an  atmosphere  of  confidence  and 
belief  in  the  sufficiency  and  conquering  power  of  the  Christian 
faith.  Too  many  workers  had  become  discouraged  or  had  drifted 
into  the  attitude  of  not  expecting  conversions ; for  example,  the 
principal  of  one  of  the  leading  Christian  colleges  stated  in  my 
hearing  that  he  did  not  expect  conversions  in  his  college  in  this 
generation  and  he  was  glad  to  add  that  his  home  committee  had 
become  so  intelligent  regarding  the  difficulties  that  they  likewise 
did  not  expect  to  see  conversions  in  this  generation.  I pointed 
out  that  this  is  not  the  attitude  and  spirit  which  ensure  conver- 
sions in  the  next  generation. 

“As  thoughtful  and  earnest  attention  was  given  to  the  prob- 
lem of  conservation  as  to  that  of  presentation  of  the  claims  of 
Christ.  In  each  place  meetings  were  held  with  enquirers  em- 
phasizing the  further  steps  which  they  were  to  take.  While  on 
the  way  to  India  we  prepared  two  pamphlets  for  this  class.  Ex- 
tended meetings  were  held  with  the  missionaries,  Indian  teachers 
and  pastors,  and  Christian  students,  at  which  the  best  methods  of 
conserving  results  were  indicated.  Letters  were  sent  later  to  all 
enquirers,  seeking  to  confirm  them  in  their  resolution. 

“We  have  come  to  realize  more  vividly  than  ever  what  is  at 
stake,  and  will  appreciate  all  that  you  may  do  to  enlist  intercession 
on  behalf  of  these  young  men  who  are  groping  their  way  toward 
the  light,  and  on  behalf  of  the  workers,  that  these  may  be  given 
Divine  wisdom  and  perseverance.  If  large  and  enduring  results 


14 


do  not  issue  from  the  effort,  prayer,  and  sacrifice  which  have 
been  devoted  to  these  campaigns,  it  will  be  much  more  difficult 
to  unite  the  forces  for  similar  meetings  in  years  to  come.  I came 
away  from  India  with  the  overwhelming  conviction  that  in  spite 
of  all  the  obstacles  the  time  has  come  to  reap,  and  that  the  great 
thing  now  needed  is  that  workers,  both  missionaries  and  Indian 
leaders,  should  live  more  under  the  sense  of  immediacy-bearing 
in  mind  that  it  is  characteristic  of  the  living  God  to  work  here 
and  now. 

“One  of  the  most  notable  events  in  the  student  world  in  late 
years  was  the  All-Indian  Student  Conference  held  at  Serampore 
during  the  recent  Christmas  holidays.  This  gathering  was  attended 
by  students  and  teachers  from  some  seventy  of  the  leading  col- 
leges of  India,  Burma,  and  Ceylon,  and  constituted  the  largest 
and  most  representative  Christian  Student  Conference  ever  held 
in  this  part  of  the  world.  We  met  in  the  place  made  sacred  by 
the  toil  and  prayers  of  Carey  and  Martyn.  The  Conference  was 
devoted  to  the  reorganization,  or,  one  might  say,  to  the  Indian- 
izing  of  the  Christian  Student  Association  Movement  of  India 
and  Ceylon.  Its  chief  distinction  was  the  constructive  work  done 
in  drawing  up  and  adopting  a practically  new  constitution  for 
the  Movement.  For  the  first  time  the  Indian  Christian  students 
themselves  have  been  given  the  dominant  voice  in  determining  and 
directing  the  policy  of  the  Movement.  It  thus  becomes  truly  in- 
digenous. Moreover,  the  Christian  students  of  all  sections  of  the 
vast  Indian  Empire  have  been  united,  thus  ensuring  the  solidarity 
of  the  Movement.  A powerful  evangelistic  and  missionary  im- 
pulse has  been  communicated  to  the  bands  and  societies  of  Chris- 
tian students  so  that  we  may  confidently  expect  to  see  them  be- 
come an  aggressive  force  in  the  evangelization  of  India.  One 
striking  incident  exerted  a profound  influence  on  the  entire  Con- 
ference— the  baptism  of  two  Hindu  students  who  became  en- 
quirers during  the  student  meetings  in  Calcutta.  This  solemn 
and  inspiring  act  took  place  one  evening  in  the  Hooghly  River  at 
the  very  spot  where  Carey  baptized  his  first  convert  a century 
ago.  They  were  baptized  by  Bishop  Azariah,  formerly  one  of  the 
Secretaries  of  the  Indian  Student  Movement  and  one  of  the 
officers  of  the  World’s  Student  Federation,  who  only  two  days 


15 


^efore  in  St.  Paul’s  Cathedral,  Calcutta,  had  been  consecrated 
Bishop  of  Dornakal,  the  first  Indian  to  be  made  bishop. 

“One  word  regarding  another  exceptional  opportunity  which 
came  to  me.  I was  invited  to  visit  the  Mohammedan  College 
at  Aligarh,  the  most  influential  modern  college  in  the  Moslem 
world.  Among  its  students  I found  men  from  widely  separ- 
ated Mohammedan  fields.  While  there  I was  permitted  to  give 
an  address  to  the  students,  and  nowhere  in  India  did  I have  a 
more  enthusiastic  reception.  The  door  has  been  opened  and  steps 
taken  to  ensure  visits  by  other  representatives  of  our  Move- 
ment.” 


“P.S.  Since  writing  the  above  I have  visited  Rangoon  and 
conducted  a Conference  there  in  the  name  of  the  Continua- 
tion Committee,  attended  by  the  leaders  of  the  Christian  forces 
from  all  parts  of  Burma.  Each  night  while  there  I addressed 
audiences  of  over  1,500  non-Christian  students,  chiefly  Bud- 
dhists. There  were  impressive  evidences  of  God’s  presence  and 
power.  Over  300  students  and  members  of  the  educated  classes 
decided  to  become  Christian  enquirers.  A visit  was  also  paid  to 
the  two  theological  seminaries  of  Insein  where  I met  with  nearly 
two  hundred  young  men  representing  the  various  races  and  tribes 
of  Burma  preparing  themselves  for  the  evangelization  of  their 
own  people — one  of  the  most  hopeful  signs  of  the  coming  Kingdom 
which  I have  witnessed.” 


16 


Meetings  With  Students  and  Leaders  in  China 

Hankow,  China,  March  10,  1913. 

“I  shall  delay  writing  about  the  Continuation  Committee  Con- 
ferences, which  have  chiefly  occupied  my  attention  in  China,  until 
the  National  Conference  in  Shanghai  is  over,  but  will  today  write 
you  of  the  wonderful  work  which  has  been  accomplished  within 
the  past  few  weeks  among  the  Chinese  students.  As  so  many 
student  centres  were  open  and  appealing  for  help,  Mr.  Eddy  and 
I,  instead  of  uniting  our  forces  as  we  did  in  India,  decided  to 
divide  and  thus  reach  twice  as  many  students.  Thus  far  I have 
had  evangelistic  meetings  in  Canton,  Shanghai,  Nanking,  Tsinanfu 
and  Peking.  The  attendance  has  ranged  from  one  thousand  to 
three  thousand,  and  has  been  composed  almost  entirely  of  govern- 
ment students.  The  average  attendance  has  been  over  two  thou- 
sand. It  was  necessary  to  utilize  the  largest  halls  in  the  dif- 
ferent cities;  for  example,  in  Canton  we  had  the  new  theatre, 
the  largest  building  of  its  kind  in  China;  in  Tsinanfu  the  great 
hall  of  the  Provincial  Assembly  was  kindly  granted  to  us  by  the 
Government;  in  Nanking  and  Peking  it  was  necessary  to  erect 
great  pavilions. 

“The  experiences  in  all  of  these  meetings  were  most  in- 
spiring. There  was  the  same  eager,  intense,  responsive  attention 
which  characterized  my  meetings  among  the  Russian  students  a 
few  years  ago.  It  all  stands  out  in  striking  contrast  with  my 
first  and  second  visits  to  China,  sixteen  and  eleven  years  ago, 
when  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  access  to  the  literati  or  govern- 
ment students,  and  even  with  that  of  my  third  visit  six  years  ago, 
when  the  tide  was  just  beginning  to  rise.  My  meetings  this  year 
have  usually  lasted  three  hours,  and  in  each,  three  addresses  have 
been  given  through  an  interpreter.  They  were  attended  with  the 
largest  fruitage  in  definite  decisions  which  I have  had  in  all  my 
experience  among  students.  There  have  been  in  three  cities  alone 
over  2,400  enquirers. 

“The  greatest  results  were  obtained  in  Pdking  where  there 
had  been  most  thorough  preparation  and  where  the  Govern- 


17 


ment  had  invited  the  students  in  government  schools  to  attend 
the  meetings.  In  this  city  there  were  over  900  students  (609 
in  one  meeting)  who,  after  as  thorough  sifting  processes  as  I 
have  ever  employed,  and  after  clear  and  reiterated  explanations, 
signed  their  names  to  signify  that  they  had  formed  the  three 
following  resolutions:  (1)  to  make  a thorough  study  of  the 
Gospels,  not  only  in  private  but  also  in  attendance  upon  a weekly 
Bible  class  until  the  end  of  the  college  year;  (2)  to  pray  daily 
to  God  for  wisdom  and  courage  to  find  and  follow  the  truth; 
and  (3)  as  soon  as  reason  and  conscience  permit,  to  accept  Jesus 
Christ  as  personal  Saviour  and  Lord.  In  addition  to  this  test 
some  200  or  more  of  this  number,  those  who  had  been  longer  ex- 
posed to  Christian  truth,  accepted  Christ  as  their  Divine  Lord  and 
Saviour. 

“The  unprecedented  response  in  every  centre  has  placed  a 
great  burden  of  responsibility  on  the  missionaries  and  Chinese 
workers.  In  no  country  have  we  made  more  extensive  and  thor- 
ough arrangements  to  conserve  results.  In  each  place  from  one 
to  five  persons  have  been  set  apart  to  devote  all  their  time  to 
guiding  the  forces  in  the  work  of  conservation,  and  a staff  in- 
cluding scores  of  the  most  experienced  lay  and  clerical  workers 
have  undertaken  to  give  special  attention  to  teaching  Bible  classes 
and  to  doing  individual  work  with  the  enquirers.  Reports  are 
reaching  me  of  the  baptism  and  admission  into  the  Church  of 
some  of  the  enquirers.  These  impressive  manifestations  of  the 
power  of  the  Spirit  were  due  more  largely  than  we  realize  to 
the  intercession  of  earnest  Christians  all  over  the  world;  for 
example,  I cannot  explain  the  marvelous  response  in  Tsinanfu 
on  the  last  Sunday  of  February,  when  over  500  Government 
students  decided  to  become  Christian  enquirers,  on  any  ground 
other  than  that  that  day  was  the  Universal  Day  of  Prayer  for 
Students,  when  Christian  students  and  professors  throughout 
the  world  were  associating  their  prayers  on  behalf  of  the  students 
of  all  lands.  Never  have  I found  such  a dead-ripe  field  as  that 
presented  by  the  students  of  China  to-day.  It  is  not  unlike  that 
of  the  government  schools  of  Japan  in  the  late  eighties.  God 
grant  that  more  fully  than  in  those  days  we  may  recognize  the 
day  of  our  visitation  and  press  our  unprecedented  advantage! 
It  would  be  difficult  to  set  a limit  to  what  might  be  accomplished 


18 


among  the  students  of  China  were  there  a sufficient  number  of 
reapers.  ' 

“Wherever  I have  gone  in  China  I have  sought  to  get  in  touch 
with  the  Chinese  students  who  have  studied  in  American  and 
European  universities.  I have  met  them  singly,  in  groups,  and 
in  three  of  the  cities  I was  given  the  opportunity  of  meeting 
large  companies  of  them  at  special  dinners.  A disproportion- 
ately large  number  of  them  are  holding  positions  of  prominence 
in  the  Government  of  the  new  China.  It  has  been  a source  of 
great  satisfaction  to  find  so  many  who  have  been  influenced  by 
our  Christian  Student  Movement  in  the  West  throwing  the  weight 
of  their  influence  on  the  side  of  righteousness  and  unselfishness 
in  public  life.  The  facts  I mention  here  confirm  the  judgment 
which  I have  expressed  more  than  once  that  there  is  no  more  highly 
multiplying  work  being  accomplished  in  our  Western  universities 
than  that  of  surrounding  with  Christian  influences  these  students 
from  the  Orient.  On  every  occasion  during  these  recent  weeks 
they  have  heartily  supported  me.  For  example,  one  of  them  who 
is  now  Commissioner  of  Education  in  his  province  presided  at 
the  opening  meeting  in  Canton.  Another  who  is  Chief  Justice 
presided  the  following  night.  Still  another  who  is  now  Governor 
of  his  province  opened  the  Government  building  for  the  meet- 
ings, gave  a reception  in  his  yamen  to  the  members  of  our  Con- 
tinuation Committee  Conference,  and  on  the  following  day  came 
with  his  Commissioner  of  Education  and  spent  an  hour  discus- 
sing with  me  matters  of  vital  concern  in  the  moral  and  religious 
education  of  the  young  men  of  the  province. 

“In  this  connection  let  me  refer  to  another  remarkable  ex- 
perience— that  of  my  visit  to  the  President  of  the  Republic, 
Yuan  Shih  Kai,  who  received’  me  very  cordially.  We  spent 
nearly  an  hour  together  discussing  the  work  of  educational  mis- 
sions and  the  problem  of  moral  education.  He  spoke  in  the  most 
appreciative  terms  of  the  practical  result  of  Christian  missions 
and  of  their  invaluable  influence  in  preparing  the  way  for  the 
new  China.  It  was  both  encouraging  and  solemnizing  to  see 
what  great  reliance  he  is  placing  in  the  Christian  Association 
Movement,  especially  the  part  dealing  with  students,  for  the 
strengthening  of  character  to  resist  the  tremendous  temptations 
which  beset  young  men  entering  public  life  at  this  time,  and  for 


19 


developing  a truly  unselfish  patriotism.  He  was  particularly  im- 
pressed by  the  message  which  I bore  from  the  President  of  the 
United  States  to  the  students  of  China,  which  among  other  things 
emphasized  that,  ‘It  would  be  difficult  to  overstate  the  importance 
of  the  work  which  awaits  these  students  in  China  who  in  these 
days  prepare  themselves  thoroughly  for  leadership  in  the  con- 
structive work  of  the  world.  It  is  vital  that  in  their  prepara- 
tion they  give  careful  attention  to  all  that  ensures  the  develop- 
ment of  strong  character.’  ” 


20 


Continuation  Committee  Conferences  in  China 


Tokyo,  Japan,  April  4,  1913. 

“I  know  you  will  wish  to  have  as  soon  as  possible  at  least  a 
brief  and  unofficial  letter  regarding  the  Conferences  recently 
conducted  in  China  in  the  name  of  the  Continuation  Commit- 
tee. The  country  was  divided  into  six  areas  and  sectional  con- 
ferences were  held  in  Canton,  Shanghai,  Tsinanfu,  Peking, 
Hankow,  and  Moukden  respectively.  Of  the  twenty-two  provinces 
of  China  all  but  the  distant  provinces,  Kansu  and  Kweichow, 
were  represented  at  one  or  more  gatherings,  even  Szechuan, 
the  westernmost  province,  having  delegates  at  three.  The  aim 
was  to  hold  down  the  attendance  to  fifty  delegates,  but  it  was 
found  necessary  to  admit  seventy-five  in  order  to  ensure  the 
representation  of  all  important  interests.  Approximately  one- 
third  of  the  delegates  were  Chinese.  Of  the  seventy  or  more 
Missionary  Societies  at  work  in  China  nearly  all  sent  delegates. 
This  included  the  various  Lutheran  bodies  of  Germany,  of  the 
four  Scandinavian  countries,  and  of  America;  the  different  sec- 
tions of  the  Anglican  Communion,  which  had  among  its  delegates 
seven  of  the  eight  bishops  who  were  in  China  at  the  time;  and 
the  many  other  regular  Societies  of  Europe  and  America.  In 
all  the  conferences  the  discussions  were  interpreted  into  Chinese. 
Each  conference  decided  for  itself  whether  or  not  to  have 
findings.  As  a matter  of  fact  all  determined  to  have  them.  No 
conference  knew  the  findings  of  the  preceding  conferences.  This 
made  the  striking  unanimity  of  their  conclusions  and  recom- 
mendations on  certain  subjects  all  the  more  significant  and  valu- 
able, and  made  the  differences  on  other  points  equally  suggestive 
and  useful. 

“The  tour  in  China  culminated  in  the  National  Conference. 
This  was  held  at  Shanghai  in  the  famous  Martyrs’  Memorial 
Hall,  first  used  for  the  sessions  of  the  Centenary  Missionary 
Conference  of  1907.  The  delegates  numbered  one  hundred  and 
twenty,  or  double  the  number  who  attended  the  National  Con- 
ference in  India,  and  even  then  it  was  difficult  to  include  all  the 


21 


leaders  whose  presence  was  deemed  essential.  As  in  the  case  of 
India  the  personnel  was  truly  notable  and  will  command  confi- 
dence in  the  decisions  reached.  Among  the  delegates  were  many 
of  the  missionaries  of  China  who  took  a prominent  part  in  the 
Centenary  and  Edinburgh  Conferences.  I was  told  that  the  forty 
Chinese  delegates  constituted  by  far  the  most  able  company  of 
Chinese  Christian  leaders  ever  assembled.  The  Conference  was 
fortunate  in  having  present  Dr.  Haigh  of  the  Wesleyan  Mission- 
ary Society,  Mr.  Bardsley  and  Mr.  Baylis  of  the  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society,  and  Dr.  Franklin  of  the  American  Baptist  Mis- 
sionary Society,  the  first  two  being  members  of  the  Continuation 
Committee.  The  Conference  was  divided  into  ten  committees. 
An  entire  day  at  the  beginning  and  many  subsequent  hours  were 
devoted  to  thorough  committee  work,  each  committee  taking  as 
the  basis  for  its  deliberation  the  printed  findings  of  the  five  sec- 
tional conferences  of  China,  and  also  consulting  carefully  the 
reports  of  the  Committees  of  the  Centenary  Conference  of  1907, 
the  reports  of  the  Commissions  of  the  Edinburgh  Conference, 
and  the  Findings  of  the  National  Conference  held  in  India  in 
January. 

“Many  assured  me  that  nothing  less  than  a grave  crisis  in 
the  relations  between  the  Chinese  Christian  Churches  and  certain 
of  the  important  Missions  was  impending.  The  Chinese  were  re- 
ceived into  these  conferences  on  an  equality  with  the  missionaries 
both  in  the  general  deliberations  and  in  all  the  committee  work; 
their  full  worth  was  recognized  by  assigning  them  to  positions 
of  leadership,  such  as  the  chairmanship  of  some  of  the  com- 
mittees; the  fullest  opportunity  was  afforded  them  to  express 
their  point  of  view  and  convictions  on  all  subjects,  including  even 
the  training  of  missionaries ; absolutely  nothing  was  done  apart 
from  them;  they  were  given  their  place  in  the  new  Committee 
appointed  to  carry  out  the  conclusions  of  the  Conference ; and  as 
a result  of  all  this  the  possibility  of  such  a crisis  seems  happily 
to  have  been  averted.  This  is  most  important,  for  if  ever  the 
Chinese  Church  needed  to  be  closely  related  to  the  organized 
forces  of  historic  and  vital  Christianity  throughout  Christendom, 
it  is  during  the  present  stage  of  development. 

“In  a wonderful  and  effective  way  this  National  Conference 
blended  the  streams  of  experience,  ideas  and  influence  of  the 


22 


Centenary  Conference  and  the  Edinburgh  Conference  and  also 
brought  to  bear,  as  it  were,  the  superinduced  current  of  present- 
day  thinking  and  discussion  on  the  same  problems.  The  findings 
of  the  Conference  register  the  best  thought  and  outlook  of  many 
of  the  most  discerning  Christian  leaders  in  China  in  this  critical 
and  eventful  time.  It  would  be  difficult  to  overstate  the  value 
this  should  be  to  the  entire  Church  of  Christ  in  the  West  at  a 
time  when  so  vast  and  imperative  demands  are  being  made  upon 
her  for  co-operation.  Moreover,  the  Conference  inaugurated 
lines  of  investigation  and  processes  of  study  of  mission  problems 
which,  if  pressed  with  patience  and  care,  will  help  greatly  in 
evolving  a science  of  missions  and  in  promoting  missionary  ef- 
ficiency. In  other  words,  this  Conference,  like  its  prototype, 
Edinburgh,  can  best  be  interpreted  not  as  an  end  but  as  a be- 
ginning. In  different  departments  of  missionary  activity  the  Con- 
ference afforded  gratifying  evidences  of  the  development  of  a 
truly  adequate  missionary  policy.  This  was  possibly  most  notice- 
able in  connection  with  educational  missions  and  the  Chinese 
Church.  With  reference  to  medical  missions  also,  the  findings, 
based  largely  on  the  report  of  the  National  Medical  Conference 
at  Peking,  which  was  addressed  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Continua- 
tion Committee,  afforded  similar  grounds  of  encouragement. 
While  one  finds  not  a few  indications  in  China  of  ably  conceived 
and  conscientiously  followed  missionary  policy  on  the  part  of 
individual  workers  and  individual  missions,  there  has  been  sadly 
lacking  in  this  as  in  other  fields  of  Asia,  and  for  that  matter 
in  Western  lands,  truly  comprehensive  missionary  policy  in  the 
sense  of  plans  entered  into  intelligently  and  adhered  to  loyally 
by  all  the  Christian  bodies  at  work  in  the  field. 

“It  would  require  a long  letter  even  to  catalogue  the  definite 
schemes  of  co-operation  which  were  considered  and  recommended 
by  the  national  and  sectional  conferences.  In  this  matter  of 
closer  co-ordination  and  unification  of  the  forces  China  bids  fair 
to  lead  the  world.  The  Conference  after  careful  consideration 
decided  to  create  what  is  called  the  China  Continuation  Com- 
mittee. This  is  composed  of  fifty-one  missionaries  and  Chinese 
leaders  with  an  Executive  of  fifteen.  The  whole  Committee  plan 
to  spend  a week  together  each  year  and  the  Executive  to  hold  an- 
nually at  least  three  meetings.  The  Chairman  is  Bishop  Roots 


23 


of  Hankow,  the  Vice-Chairman  is  the  Hon.  Chang  Po-ling, 
possibly  the  most  influential  Chinese  Christian,  and  the  Honorary 
Secretary  is  Mr.  Bondfield,  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, who  did  so  much  to  ensure  the  success  of  the  Centenary 
Conference.  Two  Executive  Secretaries  have  been  called  to 
devote  all  their  time  to  the  service  of  the  Committee — Mr. 
Lobenstine,  who  is  well  qualified  by  years  of  efficient  work  in  the 
Presbyterian  Mission  and  as  Secretary  in  Famine  Relief  Ac- 
tivities, and  Mr.  Ch’eng  Ching-yi  of  the  London  Mission,  remem- 
bered by  all  Edinburgh  delegates  for  his  remarkable  seven-minute 
speech  and  as  the  one  there  appointed  to  represent  China  on  the 
Continuation  Committee.  I am  glad  to  add  that  both  of  these 
men  have  accepted  their  appointment.  The  Committee  as  a 
whole  is  one  of  the  ablest  related  to  the  missionary  enterprise 
in  any  field.  They  are  taking  up  their  work  seriously.  Wher- 
ever I went  in  China  I found  missionaries  and  Chinese  workers 
eager  for  the  wise  leadership  which  such  a representative  and 
trustworthy  committee  can  afford.  They  assured  me  they  wanted 
no  more  conferences  which  would  result  simply  in  talk  and  resolu- 
tions. These  same  persons  expressed  the  greatest  satisfaction  at 
the  end  of  the  National  Conference  because  it  did  result  in  some- 
thing constructive  and  tangible  and  does  afford  promise  of  giving 
effect  to  the  conclusions  of  the  Conference.” 


24 


With  the  Students  in  Manchuria 


Tokyo,  Japan,  April  4,  1913. 

“It  has  occurred  to  me  that  you  would  like  to  have  a word 
about  my  recent  visit  to  Moukden.  At  the  request  of  the  Scottish, 
Irish  and  Danish  missionaries  who  attended  the  conference  held 
in  Peking,  I decided  on  short  notice  to  conduct  a similar  confer- 
ence in  Moukden  for  the  three  Manchuria  provinces.  It  was  at- 
tended by  a large  majority  of  the  missionaries  of  the  three 
Protestant  Missions  working  in  this  large  and  important  area, 
and  also  by  the  leading  Chinese  Christian  workers.  It  was  highly 
successful,  considering  its  necessary  brevity.  The  evangelistic 
meetings  which  I had  there  with  the  government  students  were 
remarkable.  The  Governor  of  Manchuria  assumed  responsibility 
for  the  working  up  of  the  attendance  and  for  the  providing  of 
a suitable  place  for  the  meetings.  He  had  erected  at  his  own 
expense  a vast  pavilion  which  was  crowded  to  the  limit  with 
fully  5,000  government  students  and  teachers  on  the  first  day. 
The  following  day  the  meeting  was  confined  to  a selected  com- 
pany of  students,  but  it  was  a meeting  of  even  greater  power. 
In  all  there  were  more  than  700  enquirers,  of  whom  412  definitely 
accepted  Jesus  Christ  as  their  personal  Saviour  and  Lord.  The 
number  of  enquirers  might  have  been  easily  doubled  or  trebled 
had  we  felt  it  wise  to  do  so  with  the  very  limited  number  of 
workers  available  to  guide  them.  As  it  is,  the  problem  will  be 
to  conserve  the  results  already  secured.  The  Commissioner  of 
Education  sat  on  the  platform  during  all  the  meetings,  including 
the  after-meetings,  and  although  not  a Christian  man,  exhorted 
the  enquirers  and  those  who  decided  for  Christ,  to  adhere  to 
their  purpose  at  all  costs.  Before  I left  the  city,  he  promised 
that  we  might  hold  Bible  classes  in  any  or  all  of  the  government 
schools  and  colleges.  All  of  the  enquirers  pledged  themselves 
to  attend  such  classes  until  the  time  of  the  summer  vacation.” 


25 


Visit  to  Japan  and  Korea 

On  the  “Tenyo  Maru,” 
Nearing  San  Francisco,  May  2,  1913. 

“In  my  work  for  the  Continuation  Committee,  in  Japan  a 
different  plan  was  followed  from  that  used  in  India  and  China. 
First  was  held  a conference  of  missionaries,  then  one  of  Japanese 
Christian  leaders,  and  finally  one  composed  of  nearly  all  the 
members  of  the  two  preceding  gatherings.  These  two  sectional 
conferences  used  the  same  syllabus  and  each  had  committees  on 
findings.  The  discussions  of  the  joint  conference  were  based  on 
the  reports  of  the  committees  of  the  sectional  conferences.  In 
all  of  the  gatherings  we  had  the  benefit  of  several  carefully 
prepared  papers  which  were  the  result  of  investigations  and 
studies  by  commissions. 

“The  personnel  of  the  conferences  was  all  that  could  be 
desired.  Six  of  the  seven  Anglican  and  Episcopal  bishops  were 
present,  one  being  unavoidably  detained.  Bishop  Hiraiwa,  the 
only  native  bishop  in  the  Far  East,  was  present  as  the  head  of 
the  united  Methodist  bodies;  Bishop  Sergius,  of  the  Russian 
Orthodox  Mission,  the  successor  of  the  late  Archbishop  Nicolai, 
and  three  other  delegates  from  this  Mission,  including  the  editor 
of  its  periodical  and  the  principal  of  its  theological  college, 
attended  and  manifested  a truly  fraternal  spirit.  They  were 
invited  with  the  hearty  approval  of  the  members  of  the  various 
Protestant  Missions.  The  two  Missions  of  Formosa,  the  English 
and  the  Canadian,  sent  able  delegates.  There  was  a Japanese 
representation  made  up  of  outstanding  Japanese  ministers, 
educators,  writers,  and  administrators.  Possibly  in  no  other 
non-Christian  country  has  the  Christian  Church  such  a strong 
native  leadership. 

“The  debates  throughout  the  conferences  reached  a high  level, 
and  take  rank  with  the  very  best  in  other  parts  of  Asia.  They 
were  characterized  by  the  greatest  frankness  as  well  as  by  the 
best  spirit.  The  marked  good-will  and  unity  which  pervaded  the 


2R 


final  conference  were  the  subject  of  comment  on  the  part 
of  many. 

“Among  many  forward  steps  which  were  taken  I will  mention 
a few.  As  a result  of  the  thorough  work  done  by  the  Com- 
mission on  the  Distribution  of  the  Forces  and  by  the  committees 
whose  work  was  based  on  this  report,  the  Conference  took  very 
advance  ground  with  reference  to  the  effective  occupation  of 
the  field.  The  findings  reveal  a demand  for  nearly  double  the 
force  of  evangelistic  missionaries,  that  is,  an  addition  of  about 
four  hundred.  This  is  not  a general  estimate  or  a round  figure 
but  is  the  outcome  of  the  most  careful  study  of  the  field  which 
has  been  made  in  any  part  of  Asia.  This  policy  met  with  the 
approval  of  missionaries  engaged  in  educational,  literary,  and 
other  work,  and  commanded  the  assent  of  the  large  majority  of 
Japanese  leaders.  Another  subject  which  received  careful  atten- 
tion and  for  the  final  treatment  of  which  most  exhaustive  study 
has  been  made  was  that  of  a union  Christian  university.  The 
Conference  came  to  unanimous  agreement  in  favor  of  the  early 
establishment  of  such  a central  institution  to  be  located  in  Tokyo 
and  to  serve  as  the  cap-stone  of  the  Christian  educational  system. 
With  like  unanimity  the  Conference  called  for  the  establishment 
of  at  least  one  very  high  grade  Christian  college  for  women. 
The  plan  for  a thorough-going  three  years’  united  evangelistic 
campaign,  recommended  by  the  Committee  on  Evangelization 
under  the  inspiring  leadership  of  Mr.  Miyagawa,  was  heartily 
adopted  by  the  Conference.  This  is  a most  timely  measure,  for 
seldom  if  ever  has  a great  field  been  so  ripe  for  such  an  effort. 
Even  more  important  than  these  significant  steps  in  the  direction 
of  practical  co-operation  was  the  decision  to  establish  the  Con- 
tinuation Committee  of  Japan.  As  is  well  known,  Japan  as  a 
result  of  its  Federation  of  Churches  and  its  Federation  of  Mis- 
sions, is  leading  the  mission  fields  of  the  world  in  the  matter  of 
comprehensive  co-operation.  These  two  bodies,  however,  were 
not  organically  united  and  certain  important  Christian  Com- 
munions were  not  included  in  either  of  them.  Since  the  Con- 
ference each  of  these  two  Federations  has  appointed  fifteen  mem- 
bers to  serve  on  the  new  Continuation  Committee  and  these 
thirty  persons  are  electing  fifteen  others  in  order  to  include 
members  of  such  bodies  of  Christians  as  have  not  been  related 


27 


to  the  Federations.  There  will  thus  be  in  Japan  an  agency 
composed  of  members  from  all  the  Christian  forces  represented 
at  our  recent  conferences.  This  will  be  of  great  value  in  co- 
operating with  the  Edinburgh  Continuation  Committee  and  in  all 
Christian  undertakings  which  concern  Japan  as  a whole. 

“In  connection  with  my  visit  in  Tokyo  there  was  held  a Chris- 
tian student  conference  attended  by  over  four  hundred  students 
and  professors.  Nearly  all  of  seventy  or  more  student  Young 
Men's  and  Young  Women’s  Christian  Associations  of  Japan  were 
represented,  including  delegates  from  all  the  leading  educational 
institutions  of  the  Empire.  The  convention  was  one  of  power 
and  of  practical  helpfulness.  On  my  first  visit  to  Japan  sixteen 
years  ago  I found  only  eight  little  bands  of  Christian  students 
having  in  all  but  a few  score  of  members.  Now  there  are  over 
seventy  Christian  Associations  with  a membership  of  fully  three 
thousand.  Then  we  had  the  most  difficult  struggle  in  which  I 
had  ever  engaged  to  ensure  the  establishment  of  a national 
movement  on  a thoroughly  sound  basis.  This  year  I found  the 
same  movement  waging  a triumphant  Christian  propaganda 
throughout  the  wonderful  student  field  of  Japan.  The  greatest 
menace  to  the  cause  of  Christ  in  Japan,  if  not  in  the  entire  Far 
East,  is  that  of  the  pronouncedly  secular  and  agnostic  govern- 
ment educational  system  of  this  country.  The  principal  hope  of 
counteracting  this  serious  influence  is  that  of  the  Christian 
Student  Movement. 

“In  Japan  almost  every  day  I had  opportunities  to  thrust  in 
the  sickle  for  evangelistic  results.  This  field,  like  China,  is 
dead-ripe  unto  harvest.  According  to  old  missionaries  and  Jap- 
anese Christians  the  conditions  for  evangelistic  work  among 
students  are  as  favorable  now  as  in  the  memorable  days  of  the 
late  eighties.  Every  meeting  which  I had  was  characterized  by 
great  openness  and  responsiveness  to  the  direct  presentation  of 
the  claims  of  Christ.  This  was  just  as  true  in  government  colleges 
as  in  Christian  schools.  Nowhere  was  the  response  more  marked 
than  among  the  students  in  that  head  centre  of  Buddhism,  Kyoto, 
where  there  are  at  least  ten  thousand  Buddhist  priests.  While 
the  largest  results  were  secured  among  the  undergraduates  there 
were  not  a few  decisions  for  Christ  among  the  graduates.  In 
my  meetings  among  Japanese  students  there  was  seldom  a meet- 


28 


ing  with  less  than  one  hundred  enquirers,  and  the  average  was 
more  nearly  over  two  hundred.  The  proportion  of  non-Chris- 
tians present  who  become  enquirers  or  who  accepted  Christ  was 
unusually  large,  ranging  all  the  way  from  one-fourth  to  seven- 
eighths  of  the  non-Christians  present. 

“As  you  know,  there  are  still  over  three  thousand  Chinese 
students  in  Tokyo.  In  two  meetings  with  them  some  three 
hundred  and  fifty  of  these  keen  young  men,  representing  all  of 
the  provinces  of  China,  definitely  and  courageously  indicated  their 
purpose  to  become  followers  of  Christ.  As  a result  of  a retreat 
which  Mr.  Brockman  conducted,  quite  a number  are  already  pre- 
paring for  baptism.  Another  meeting  which  I shall  never  forget 
was  the  one  held  with  the  hundreds  of  Korean  students  in 
Toyko,  where  seventy-six  accepted  Christ — an  unusually  large 
proportion,  considering  the  number  who  were  already  Christians. 
In  view  of  the  fact  that  many  of  these  students  have  been  the 
source  of  dangerous  political  agitation  and  that  so  many  others 
are  to  sustain  an  important  relation  to  the  development  of  the 
new  Korea  this  work  among  them  was  especially  important. 

“The  days  spent  in  Korea  were  very  full.  The  Continuation 
Committee  Conference  which  was  held  at  Seoul  was  attended  by 
leading  missionaries  and  Korean  Christian  workers  and  afforded 
an  invaluable  opportunity  to  get  into  touch  with  the  entire  Chris- 
tian movement  of  Korea  and  to  further  wise  plans  for  its  future 
development.  Much  time  was  devoted  to  the  delicate  and  grave 
problems  which  just  now  confront  the  Church  in  that  land.  In 
addition  to  special  meetings  with  the  Japanese  and  with  mem- 
bers of  Government,  I was  glad  to  throw  myself  into  a short 
series  of  meetings  for  Korean  students  and  other  young  men. 
The  large  pavilion  erected  for  this  purpose  was  crowded  each 
night  with  three  thousand  men  and  hundreds  definitely  accepted 
Christ  as  their  Divine  Saviour.” 


29 


Objects  for  Intercession 


(These  objects  or  requests  for  prayer  were  sent  to  friends  before  the 

tour  began.) 


For  intercessors,  that  Christians  of  reality  in  all  parts  of  the  world 
may  early  realize  the  possibilities  and  limitations  of  this  special  mission 
in  Asia  and  devote  themselves  to  faithful  intercession. 

For  the  members,  officers,  and  special  committees  of  the  Continuation 
Committee,  that  they  may  have  a realizing  sense  of  the  seriousness  of  the 
trust  committed  to  them  by  the  Edinburgh  Conference,  and  the  power  of 
initiative  and  of  patient  continuance  in  constructive  work  necessary  to 
accomplish  their  task. 

For  all  those  in  any  way  associated  with  the  conduct  of  or  the  prepara- 
tions for  this  mission,  that  they  may  be  shielded  from  physical  and  spiritual 
dangers  and  be  controlled  from  the  beginning  to  the  close  by  the  power  of 
the  living  Christ. 

For  the  twenty  or  more  Conferences  of  the  Continuation  Committee 
to  be  held  in  different  parts  of  Asia,  that  men  and  women  of  vision, 
penetration,  right  judgment,  courage,  constructive  ability,  and  irenic  spirit 
may  be  sent  to  them  as  delegates  and  that  all  the  discussions  and  personal 
fellowship  may  be  dominated  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 

For  the  Student  Evangelistic  Missions  to  be  conducted  at  the  principal 
student  centres  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Sherwood  Eddy,  with  whom 
the  General  Secretary  of  the  World’s  Student  Christian  Federation  will 
co-operate,  that  the  abounding  Gospel  may  be  proclaimed  to  multitudes  of 
students,  and  that  many  of  these  future  leaders  of  all  lands  of  Asia  may 
be  energized  by  God  to  accept  Christ. 

For  the  gatherings  of  Christian  students  and  of  leaders  in  the 
Christian  activities  for  students,  that  as  a result  of  new  plans  and  efforts 
there  may  be  an  offering  of  many  lives  for  the  leadership  of  the  forces 
of  Christ  in  Asia. 


For  the  Conference  and  General  Committee  Meeting  of  the  World’s 
Student  Christian  Federation,  that  right  conclusions  may  be  reached 
and  that  a lasting  spiritual  impulse  may  be  given  to  the  Christian  Student 
Movements  throughout  the  world. 

For  the  realization  of  Christian  unity,  that,  as  a result  of  activities 
and  processes  employed  in  connection  with  this  special  mission,  the  answer 
to  the  prayer  of  our  Lord  “that  they  all  may  be  one”  may  be  hastened. 


30 


